WMU Master of Business Administration program launches new HyFlex options and credit for experience

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Demand for MBAs is on the rise, and Western Michigan University's Haworth College of Business will offer new options for maximum schedule flexibility and program relevancy for graduate students beginning in fall of 2021. With these new options, incoming MBA candidates can expect:

• HyFlex format: The program offers options for in-person, hybrid and online instruction. Students will have maximum flexibility as working professionals to determine what format works best for them and can maintain progress on their degree no matter where life takes them.
• Credit for experience: Students can earn credit before starting the program for specific knowledge and skills gained from past employment, professional certification, or other personal experiences. In addition, students may apply for credit for significant work-related projects that they are engaged in during the program.
• In-demand skill sets: Based on employer and MBA alumni feedback, the revised program will focus on specific skill sets most in demand in the current business environment: leadership, analytics, communication and negotiation.

“Working professionals who decide to get their MBA part-time have the desire to enhance their business knowledge while still being able to work and fulfill their family responsibilities,” says Dr. Steve Newell, associate dean of graduate programs and operations. “Based on this, WMU Haworth has designed a flexible program that emphasizes specific knowledge and skill sets that organizations expect their managers to possess. Our MBA students will be able to directly apply what they are learning in their courses to their current job and use the growth in their skill sets to advance in their careers.”

MBA faculty have been piloting the new HyFlex course formats this past year, and students are providing positive feedback.

“I took my Global Business course synchronously online, which was flexible for my schedule, says Sanjana Ghosh, who is close to completing her degree. “My professor and MBA advisor were very attentive and considerate to make the process easier for all students, synchronous or in-person. They ensured that both synchronous and in-person students could effectively share their perspectives with each other, making the groups feel connected.”

That sense of connection is important, as the WMU Haworth MBA program has long been known for fostering opportunities for networking that benefit students as they work to accelerate their careers and seek out opportunities for professional advancement.

The Haworth College of Business was recently recognized by the Princeton Review on its list of best business schools at which to earn an MBA degree. Student input from the publication cited the flexibility, effective teaching and specialized skill sets as some of the many benefits of a WMU Haworth MBA.

For more information, visit the MBA website.

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